Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

de1amo

i would never dream of taking my 12 year old step daughter away from her grandparents and friends-i am in Turkey and everyone asks my Turkish wife why we dont relocate back to the UK-i sight the weather to people but my wife and i came to the agreement when we first married that our daughters roots and education were foremost--i dont speak turkish because we speak only English at home and our daughter has become fluent by osmosis--we run our own language school and hope one day our daughter will take the rains and let us retire to our beach house for all the summer--resorts are just for summer as they are ghost towns in winter and usually pretty damp and here in Turkey the houses in resorts are never built for 365 day living--the resorts invariably never have natural gas,
i can imagine Benidorm being a good choice for winters but wonder how hot it becomes in the summer months(and crowded)--my brother's spanish in laws are retiring to Almeria but i know little about the opportunities for work or number of brits there--

folkestonelisa

Are daughter has been consulted about this and whatever we do will be a family decision, and not taken lightly either.
We dont have family that we see that often so thats not a worry either. If we moved then we might see them more often (mmm maybe a good reason not to move. lol)

Thats why i was asking for peoples feedback on here. so that i get a lot of positives and negatives and Donny-Gal has been great.

Its still at least 5 years away yet, need to finish uni and get a fantastic job yet. and who knows what will happen, but that is why im asking now, as i dont want to do anything rash and impulsive as it is a big step.

I may even win the lottery by then and i wont have to worry as ill be a milllllionnnnaireeee. :j

Lisa

gfplux

Hello Folkstonelisa,
You have had some very good replies and I would not disagree with any point that has been made.
I would just emphasise how different busy holiday resorts can be "out of season" I assume you have visited your projected new home on a number of occasions. If this is not a pure City but a tourist resort it's character will change dramatically over the seasons.
I have considerable experience of the South of France. The difference between August and January is quite unbelievable. You really have to see it to believe it. The difference is so great any words to describe it would seam an exaggeration.

I am presently in Florida (West Palm Beach) where my daughter has a business. Even here there are huge changes in character over the seasons. The change in average age of the visitor is huge and any business relying on one age group can find themselves in difficulty in certain seasons.
When few business's exist to serve a need there is usually a reason. The trick is to found out why.
Good Luck

Savvy_Sue

Another point to make about food related businesses, is to consider whether you can actually make a profit from your 'niche' market.

So, if you're planning to sell to tourists and / or expats, you probably want to offer products they are familiar with. But you have to consider whether you will be able to sell at a sensible price, ie one which people are prepared to pay. I'm in Dublin atm, and I have to say that I'm looking at some foods which I regularly buy at home, and thinking "HOW MUCH?" And then walking away ...

Admittedly all food prices seem to be high, or I'm looking in the wrong shops, but I've thought the same in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura - yes, you can get sliced bread, but why would you pay that much for it when you can get local bread which tastes better and works out cheaper?

Just because a product is familiar, doesn't mean you'll be able to sell it.

folkestonelisa

Thank you all that have replied and it has certainly given us quite a lot to think about, and may have even changed our minds for a while. :j

But as this isnt going to happen for at least 5 years, it has certainly given us plenty of time to investigate different areas that we might be considering and also gives us plenty of time to make sure that we are well equipped if we decide to move abroad.

but plan b is to win the lottery very soon so that we dont have to worry about any of this and can use retire instead. :rotfl:

de1amo

hopefully the election will have a positive outcome and the pound will rebound--i noticed positive movement yesterday in the pound to turkish lira--2,26 to 2,30--when i moved the bulk of my capital it was a heady 2,76!

What is the position with the flights and this ash over the uk--if you buy a ticket on the net and the flight just doesnt go do you get an automatic refund or do you need to insure??

de1amo

İs anyone worrying about the flight situation of returning back to the uk?
i have to get visas etc for my wife as well as flight tickets well in advanced and i am wondering how people are planning this summers ashes dilema--as far as i gather the airlines are not giving refunds and insurance companies arent covering people--did anyone get caught up in the last fiasco!--personally i would love to not go but the wife is hell bent!!

Savvy_Sue

I think it would be worth making a few calls about this, and asking the 'what if' questions.

If it's going to be a long-term situation - and I'm thinking it is - then I don't see how the airlines can fail to introduce some procedures which give people some reassurance about what happens if their particular flight has to be cancelled or re-routed.

Having spent the weekend in Dublin and then wondered if we'd be able to fly back, you have my sympathy!

seven-day-weekend

Hi there, sorry I have not been around lately, we have been on holiday on the Costa del Sol and the place where we are has no internet access unless you go out somwhere.

We are actually still on holiday, but have returend to our village today to deliver some furniture we have cadged from the people who own the apartment we are staying in. Returning to the CDS tomorrow until Monday, when we pick up friends from Malaga airport (hopefully) and then return to the village.

The apartment and complex where we are staying is lovely and we are hoping the owners (distant relatives of my husband's) will let us use it again sometime.

However you would think it was a different country to where we live in our house in the mountains. Even the climate is different. We have gone from wearing shorts and teeshirts and lounging by the pool to coming home to the mountains and lighting the gas fire!

As for the place where we are staying , apart from the climate it is easy to forget you are in Spain at all as everyone speaks English. Still it is nice for a holiday.

Will catch up properly next week.

gfplux

Talking of Volcanoes!!!!!!!
I am in Florida with a flight from Miami to Paris booked for Thursday night/Friday morning.
It will be "interesting" to follow the news in the next few days!

My Daughter who I am staying with is keeping her fingers crossed.